According to Variety, Oscar winner Nicolas Cage will reprise his role as arms dealer Yuri Orlov in a follow-up to the 2005 crime thriller Lord of War.
Meanwhile, John Wick: Chapter 4 star Bill Skarsgård has also been enlisted to portray the role of Yuri Orlov’s son, Anton. The sequel, titled Lords of War, will once again be written and directed by Andrew Niccol – best known for his Oscar-nominated screenplay to The Truman Show. Production is expected to begin this coming fall.
“There is so much more to explore with these characters,” Niccol said. “Plato said it best – ‘Only the dead have seen the end of war.’ I’m looking forward to spending more time in the company of the charming devil that is Yuri Orlov and now his illegitimate son – who turns out to not be legitimate in any way.”
What to Expect in Lords of War?
“Lords of War finds Orlov (Cage), the world’s most notorious gunrunner, as he discovers that he has a son, Anton (Skarsgård), who is trying to top his dad,” reads the synopsis. “Anton is amassing a mercenary army to fight America’s Middle East conflicts. This triggers an inter-generational bitter rivalry, one that pits father and son against each other.”
The project will be produced by Cage for Saturn Films, along with original producers Philippe Rousselet and Fabrice Gianfermi for Vendôme Pictures. Skarsgård is also set to executive produce.
The original film was inspired by the real-life stories of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. It also starred Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, and Bridget Moynahan.